(CONCORD, NC – SEP 17, 2017 – RIS) Doug Kalitta took his No. 1 qualifying position to a career first win at zMAX Dragway Sunday in the tenth NHRA Carolina Nationals. Joining Kalitta at the top of the weekend's podium was 18-year-old rookie phenom Tanner Gray in Pro Stock, also a No. 1 qualifier, Robert Hight in Funny Car and Eddie Krawiec riding his Pro Stock Motorcycle, all victorious in the first Countdown event of the final six rounds of the Mello Yello Drag Racing season. Kalitta beat teammate Richie Crampton in the finals with a 3.775-second pass at 318.39 mph in the Mac Tools dragster, earning his first 'Wally' trophy of 2017. Kalitta has 43 career wins and has not won at only two tracks on the NHRA circuit. “Getting this win gives us great momentum with only five races to go, but with the team I have with me I’m full of confidence,” Kalitta said. “It’s huge for me to get my first win at this great facility, because we have been coming here for a lot of years and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.” The win and quick qualifier points vaulted Kalitta from fifth in points to the lead, going into the next race at the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA.

Kalitta qualified quickest and then beat out Chris Karamesines, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican in the first three rounds of elimination races before his third final round of the year. Crampton qualified seventh and reached the final round for only the second time in the season, taking out Scott Palmer, Steve Torrence and Brittany Force in Sunday's rounds.

Funny Car racer Robert Hight earned his third win of the season and first since Seattle with a 3.943 sec/328.86 mph run in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro, beating teammate (and the boss's daughter) Courtney Force in her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro in the final round. Hight has amassed 40 victories in his career and this win gives him the lead in the Funny Car points standings. “This is probably one of the toughest race days I’ve ever had. We’ve had a great race car over the past 15 races in either hot or cold weather, getting low E.T. in several events throughout the year,” Hight said. “It’s almost impossible to have six great races in a row during the Countdown, but we had everything figured out today which we needed with the tough competition we faced today,” Hight said. “All four drivers I faced today (Matt Hagan, Tommy Johnson Jr., J.R. Todd and Courtney Force) are in the Countdown. I would’ve been bummed if we didn’t take advantage of all those cars dropping out early. I felt like we had to capitalize and win today. … We definitely earned this one.”

In Pro Stock, local driver Tanner Gray stretched an impressive rookie season with a 6.614/208.07 run in his Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro during the final round to earn his fifth victory of his season. Four-time world champion Greg Anderson fell victim to the teenager as Gray took the lead in Pro Stock points. “If you would have told me I would be the points leader when I left the first race of the Countdown I would have said you were crazy,” Gray said. “I have a great team who has helped me throughout the season and we are really happy with where we are at.” Gray qualified quickest and got around Val Smeland, Erica Enders and Jason Line before his sixth final round of the year. “This season has gone better than anybody expected,” added Gray, after his fifth win of the season. “The guys have such a great handle on the car that they make my job easy. Everybody pitched in today. I guess that’s just how this deal works. I couldn’t be any more proud of them.

“This is probably up there among my biggest wins. My grandparents came from New Mexico to watch. I’m not really an emotional guy, but my grandpa hugged me and it was hard not to tear up. I’m blessed to be able to win here. It’s definitely special.”

Eddie Krawiec was the victor in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.850 at 196.87 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to take the win over quickest qualifier and teammate Andrew Hines in the final round. Krawiec gained the points lead as he locked down his fourth win this season, his 40th career victory and his second in a row. “This is a huge race for me because I love this drag strip and this facility, and to come out of the first Countdown race with a win is huge for me and my team,” Krawiec said. “Getting a win here is awesome, because it increases your chances to win a championship quite a bit so I’m really excited about this.”

Krawiec qualified second and beat Charlie Sullivan, Chip Ellis and Hector Arana Jr. en route to the finals. Hines earned the No. 1 qualifier and knocked off Charlie Sullivan, Chip Ellis and Hector Arana Jr. on the way to his third runner-up finish for the year in three final round appearances. “To me, this is actually a bigger one (to win than the U.S. Nationals),” said Krawiec, who earned his 40th career victory in the Countdown opener. “I enjoy racing at Charlotte. I love this drag strip. This is a beautiful place and the Smiths do nothing short of spectacular.

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Final finish order (1-16) at the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.